3D photonic crystals from highly monodisperse FRET-based red luminescent PMMA spheres

Abstract

Red-luminescent PMMA spheres containing a Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) pair were synthesized via a two-step polymerization method. Two reaction parameters, time and monomer volume, are scanned in order to tune the sphere diameter in the 250-500 nm range. Further the polydispersity of the spheres is kept low, at ca. 3%, regardless of sphere diameter or dye concentration. A thorough optical characterization via spectroscopy and time resolved measurements shows a FRET efficiency of over 40% before concentration quenching effects take place, allowing for a precise tuning of their emission in the red region of the visible spectrum. The high quality of these spheres makes them suitable to fabricate selfassembled 3D photonic crystals which act as photonic environment to modify the spectral properties of the FRET pair via Bragg diffraction. † Present address:

Monodisperse colloidal spheres with a high refractive index: their synthesis, assembly and application in structural colored materials

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Controlling Three-Color Förster Resonance Energy Transfer in an Optical Fabry–Pérot Microcavity at Low Mode Order

“…In the past, people attempted to manipulate the energy transfer by placing FRET pairs in a photonic cavity, − photonic bandgap material, plasmonic nanoantennas, − and photonic crystals . The results show that the energy transfer can be enhanced, ,,− suppressed, , or stay the same. − Spontaneous emission modification at resonant modes of a cavity can be described by the aforementioned Purcell effect, which was shown to have an impact on the energy transfer between closely spaced dipole emitters …”

Low threshold photonic crystal laser based on a Rhodamine dye doped high gain polymer

“…16,17 Although only a pseudo-PBG exists in CCs, a distinct L-point gap in CCs can prevent light propagation in the (111) direction and manipulate the spontaneous emission of light emitters. [18][19][20][21] It has been demonstrated that utilizing PBG effects of CCs to enhance the optical gain of light emitters could facilitate the fabrication of low-threshold lasers. [22][23][24][25][26][27] Despite the fact that much effort has been devoted to optimizing the resonating cavity, [28][29][30] few work has been directed towards improving the gain media in CC lasers.…”